From the Pulpit

Pentecost 15 2017, Proper 19
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 17, 2017
Psalm 103:1-12; Genesis 50:15-21, Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

When I graduated from Valparaiso University in 1988 I had $5,000 in student loan debt which seemed like a lot of money.  I got that paid off in time to go to seminary and accumulate another $20,000 in debt.  It took 12 years or so to get that paid off.  I thought that was a lot of money, but not compared to others.  A number of years ago there was a student in the Miami Lutheran Student Fellowship and Bible study who told me that he was graduating with $90,000 in student loan debt; and he wasn’t going into a highly paid field.

$90,000.  If you could get a job making $20 an hour how long would it take to pay off $90,000?  562.5 days of working 8 hour shifts.  A little over two years and that is if you did not have to pay taxes or interest or pay for anything out of your paycheck to live.  562.5 days of work.

Having a large debt is tough.  It is always hanging over your head; eating up so much of your paycheck.  Debt is hard.

How big is your debt to God?  For every sin that you have ever committed, how much is that to work off?  When you think about the many times you have disobeyed your parents.  The many times you have lost your temper.  The many times you said hurtful, hateful things to someone.  The many times have you lied, cheated, stolen.  The many times have you given in to the ways of the world rather than following God’s law.  The many times have you said, “I know the Bible says it is wrong, but….”

God requires perfect obedience and you cannot deliver that.  I cannot deliver that.  We have inherited sin from our parents all the way back to our first parents, Adam and Eve.  And so sin comes naturally to us and each sin builds a debt with God.  How big is that debt?  How long would you have to work in order to pay off that debt?  How big is your pile of sin?  You built it, one sin at a time.  Every lustful thought, word or deed.  Every time you gossip about others.  Every boast about yourself.  Every time you do what you shouldn’t do or don’t do what you should do.  Every time you act selfishly.

You are natural born sinner.  If you committed let’s say, conservatively, 50 sins a day that would be 350 sins a week, 18,200 sins a years, if you live to be 85 that is 1,547,000 sins.  If each sin were packaged in a one cubic foot box and you stacked them on top of each other you would have a stack that reached almost 300 miles in the air to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere.  That is a big pile of sin.    Each box labeled with your misdeeds; your sins; your dishonor.  You stand there looking up at that huge pile of sin with guilt and shame and sorrow.  If you tried to work off your sins, forever wouldn’t be enough time.

This is the situation of the servant in Jesus’ parable today.  He owes 10,000 talents.  One talent is worth 20 years labor for a worker.  This servant owes 10,000 Talents.  That is over 60,000,000 day’s wages.  It is an unpayable debt.  Like your debt to God for your sin.

The master seeks to collect the debt or at least get some of his money back by selling the man and his family and all his possessions.  The servant, faced with this terrible fate, begs the master for mercy and out of pity the master has mercy on him and cancels that whole debt.  What a weight lifted off the servant!  The great burden of the unpayable debt has been eliminated.

How amazing would it be for someone to cancel all your debt, or for that student to have a $90,000 loan taken away?  How wonderful it must be to have an unpayable debt forgiven.  What incredible joy the servant must feel.

And yet the joy is short lived.  That servant goes to a fellow servant who owes him 100 days wages and demands payment.  The other servant begs for mercy but the first servant shows no mercy even though he had just received great mercy.  The first servant has the second thrown into prison until he can pay the debt.

The master hears about this situation and condemns the unmerciful servant.  “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”  In anger, the master delivers the unmerciful servant to the jailers until he should pay all his debt; which we know he can never pay.

Jesus’ last line in this parable is one of the harshest of the entire Bible.  “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

As a follower of Jesus you are called on to let go of the anger and forgive those who sin against you.

As a follower of Jesus you have been forgiven all of your sins.  Instead of a gigantic pile of sin, your sins have been cleared away.  Your unpayable debt of sin has been paid by the suffering and death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, on the cross for you.  That giant pile of sin has been washed away in the waters of Holy Baptism.  It is washed away by hearing Jesus’ words, “I forgive you all your sins.”  Jesus feeds you with His body and blood in Holy Communion bringing forgiveness, life and salvation.  The Lord pours out forgiveness on you in a stream of living water that flows into you from God and out of you as you love and forgive others who sin against you.  As a forgiven follower of Jesus you are called to freely forgive others.

Forgiveness is tough.  When someone hurts you your immediate reaction is to hurt them back a bit more than they hurt you.  When someone sins against you, it is natural to get angry and, too often, you want to hold onto that anger and use it as a tool or a weapon.  As a follower of Jesus you are called on to let go of the anger and forgive those who sin against you.

Forgiveness is tough.

What does it mean to forgive?  Often times when someone apologizes for something we reply, “It’s okay.”  But when someone sins against you it is not okay.  Forgiving someone does not mean that what they did was okay.  Forgiveness does not mean that you won’t need to make some  at times to keep safe.

Forgiving someone means that you no longer hold the offense against them.  Forgiving means you will not bring up the offense in future arguments.  Forgiving means you are not going to seek to get even with that person.  Forgiving means letting go of the anger.  You may still feel the hurt for a while, but you can let go of the anger.  Forgiving means letting God take vengeance.  Romans 12:19 (ESV) ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”^[1]

Forgiveness is tough.  Forgiveness can be the hardest thing you ever have to do.  Jesus knows this.  Forgiving you is the hardest thing Jesus ever did.  Paying for your sins with His suffering and death on the cross was the hardest thing Jesus ever had to do.  Jesus gives you the strength to forgive even when it is hard.  If you had to forgive out of your own store of love and goodness it would soon run dry.  But you do not forgive out of your own store of goodness.  You forgive out of the overflowing abundance of the forgiveness poured out on you by the Lord Jesus.

Forgiveness is living water that flows and needs to flow.  It flows into your life from Jesus and it flows out of your life to others and that way it is always fresh.  If you get hardened in your sin and turn your back on Christ and stop receiving the forgiveness of Jesus you run out of forgiveness to give to others.  If you refuse to forgive others and forgiveness does not flow out of your life that stops the forgiveness flowing in because there is no room and it grows old and stagnant.

Forgiveness is living water that must flow.  It flows in; it flows out.  You cannot just hold onto to God’s forgiveness and not let any out to those who sin against you.

As a follower of Jesus you are called to forgive from your heart.  But forgiveness can be very hard.  There is great evil in the world and when that evil is directed toward you, or worse, one of your loved ones, it can be nearly impossible to forgive.  So when you find yourself saying I won’t forgive or I can’t forgive, look to Jesus on the cross for you and confess that sin of unforgiveness and receive the refreshing shower of God’s forgiveness in Jesus.  Pray for the one whom you cannot forgive.  Pray for the strength to forgive with the forgiveness flowing from Jesus.  Do not look for the strength to forgive from within yourself, look to Jesus and how much He has forgiven you.  Ponder how much God has forgiven you and let that forgiveness flow to others even when you are still hurt.

The pile of sin in your life was an incredible debt that you could not pay, but that sin is gone; it has been washed away.  Jesus has paid the price for your sin and taken your sin away.  When God the Father looks at you He does not see a pile of sin, but rather a perfect, holy, sinless child of God washed clean in the blood of Jesus.  Live in that love and forgiveness.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 14 2017, Proper 18
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 10, 2017
Psalm 32:1-7, Ezekiel 33:7-9, Romans 13:1-10, Matthew 18:1-20

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

Here we are on the first Sunday of the 2017-18 NFL football season.  It is a wonderful day as the Bengals and Browns are both undeafeated (and the Patriots are in last place).  So, speaking of football, who is the greatest Bengals player of all times?  Boomer Esiason, Ken Anderson, Anthony Munoz?  Who is the greatest NFL player of all times?  Walter Peyton, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Jim Brown?  Who is the greatest?  I’m sure we could generate a lot of conversation on that topic…I would contribute very little as I would be partial to John Riggins, Joe Theisman and the like.

Who is the greatest basketball player?  Jordan, Lebron, Curry?

What about baseball?  Hockey?  Soccer?  Who is the greatest?

Boxing that’s a no-brainer; he told us repeatedly.

Who is the greatest?  Who is the most powerful, the strongest, the fastest, the most talented?

Who is the greatest at your school?  Who is the greatest at your place of work?  Who is the greatest here at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School?  Matt Franke the President?  Dan Heitger the head elder?  The principal?  The pastor?  The organist?  The one who volunteers the most?  The one who gives the most offering?  Who is the greatest?  We so easily fall into the trap of determining who is the greatest by the world’s standards of greatness.  Power, strength, speed, talent, wealth, and independence, these are the world’s measures of greatness; just like the disciples.

Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV) ¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^[1]

The world measures greatness by power, strength, speed, talent, wealth and independence.  Jesus measures greatness by humility, weakness, neediness, vulnerability, dependence.  The one who is greatest is the one who becomes like a child.  Children know they are needy and dependent.  The greatest one at Immanuel is the one who struggles mightily with sin and knows he cannot do in on his own.  The greatest at Immanuel is one who knows she needs Jesus.  The greatest at Immanuel is the one who knows he is dependent on Jesus alone.

Children know they are dependent.  Children know they are needy.  Children also know how to receive gifts.  The older we get the harder it is to receive.

Picture this; it is December 24^th at 11:30 AM.  You are hard at work in your cubicle trying to tie up a couple of loose ends before you get to leave at noon for early closing on Christmas Eve.  You hang up the phone and look up and there is Randy; the guy from down the hall in accounting.  Randy is a great guy but he is doing something awful.  He is holding a wonderful-looking plate of homemade Christmas Candies arranged beautifully around an expensive scented candle.  “Merry Christmas!” he says.  This is awful.  Why?  Because you didn’t get Randy anything and now there is no time to get him anything and if you tried to get him something it would just be so obvious you hadn’t planned to get him anything.  If he gives you a gift, now you are obligated to give him something.  You kind of get mad at Randy for being so insensitive to your need to be independent.

When you are a child you look forward to your birthday and Christmas because you get to receive gifts from your parents and grandparents and others.  When a child receives a gift they just receive it and enjoy it without feeling like they owe the giver anything in return except a thank you.

Like a child needs her parents, you need God.  You need God to give you the gift of forgiveness even though you have nothing to give God in return.

Grown-ups have trouble with acknowledging that we are indeed dependent.  We want to be independent and not have to rely on anyone.  There is a movement to be off the grid and not even use electricity.  One of the worst things about getting sick or injured is becoming dependent on others to help you do what you used to do for yourself.

You want to pretend we are independent, but you are dependent.  Like a child needs her parents, you need God.  You need God to give you the gift of forgiveness even though you have nothing to give God in return.  You need Jesus’ forgiveness even though the only thing you have to give to God is your stinking, rancid pile of sin.  It is hard to admit that pile of sin is yours.

It is hard to admit that you are by nature sinful and unclean.  It is hard to admit that you sin in your thoughts, words and deeds.  It is hard to admit that you are in bondage to sin and cannot free yourself.  You want to believe that you are good enough.  You want to believe that you may not be perfect, but you’re not such a bad person.  You want to believe that you are good with God because you do enough good stuff to outweigh the bad stuff.  You want to believe that you are good enough, but that is not true.

You are a sinner who needs Jesus.  You need Jesus on the cross for you.  You need Jesus to suffer and die for you.  You are a sinner who must struggle daily and mightily against sin in your own life.  There is such temptation from the devil, the world and your own sinful nature to experiment with sin, indulge in sin, immerse yourself in sin.  Two or three gathered in Jesus’ name have power against sin.  Two or three gathered outside of Jesus’ name far too often promote sin.  You get with others in person or online and you are pushed toward sin.  Kids get together at sleep overs and push each other toward sin.  The whole purpose of game of truth or dare is to get you to say things you shouldn’t say or do things you shouldn’t do.  There is a lot of peer pressure to give in to sin.  To drink too much, to use filthy language, to go with the boys to a “gentlemen’s” club where women are turned into objects.  There is great pressure to just go with the flow and adopt the world’s sexual ethic rather than God’s plan of husband and wife in a lifelong marriage.  There is pressure to give up on gathering together on Sunday morning so you can do something more entertaining or sleep off your overindulgence from the night before or just have a day off.  There is great pressure on you to cheat; to lie; to gossip; to hate.  And so you must daily battle sin in your life so that it does not take root and grow.

And be super on guard against causing others to sin.  Matthew 18:6 (ESV) ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ^[2]

When you get caught up in a sin it is very tempting to want to share that sin with others and bring them into it.  Misery and naughtiness both love company.  When we learn a new sin we are so tempted to teach others.  Someone else taught you that sin, and you taught it to others.  Far too often people gather together for evil rather than good.  Do not be one of them.  Do not bring sin to others.  Battle sin in your own life while it is still just a thought so it does not spill over into words and deeds.  Do not share sin.  Do not teach sin.  Do not cause one of Jesus’ little ones to sin.  That is from the devil.  Be diligent in your life to reduce sin in the world and not to increase it.  Be especially careful around new believers and hurting believers and those who struggle.  Be careful around the little ones in the literal and the figurative sense.

The battle against sin is difficult and painful.  It hurts to fight sin; it hurts to give up a sin.  Jesus knows this.  But avoiding pain is no excuse.  Jesus teaches:  Matthew 18:8-9 (ESV) ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. ^[3]

Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He is exaggerating to make a point.  Nowhere in scripture do we see anyone getting their hands cut off or eyes gouged out to fight sin.  But He is a deadly serious in the call to battle sin in your life.  When sin becomes a regular part of your life it is painful to remove it.  But it is better for you to feel the pain of removing a sin than to be thrown into the hell of fire.  You are not called to disfigure yourself, but you are called to cut sin out of your life; no matter how painful that will be.

Sin is dangerous; sin leads you to hell.  Sin can lead your brothers and sisters in Christ away from God and onto the road to hell.  As a member of this congregation it is your duty and my duty to warn each other about sin consistently and patiently so that sin does not gain a foothold in our congregation.

This congregation does not exist to increase sin in the world, but to forgive sin.  This congregation; the church and the school together is here to pour out the forgiveness of sins won for you by Jesus on the cross of Calvary.  This congregation exists to forgive sins and reduce the sin in the world.  So we battle sin and division in our midst so the devil does not get a foothold to tear us apart.  This is a congregation for sinners, but it is not a congregation for sin.

Who is the greatest here at Immanuel?  The one who knows she needs Jesus.  The one who knows he is dependent on God.  The one who knows that the battle against sin is not going well.  The one who feels the guilt and shame of their sin.  Know that you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven when you know you are a poor, weak, lowly sinner who needs Jesus.  Indeed, you need Jesus, and Jesus is here for you.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 13, 2017
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
September 3, 2017
Jeremiah 15:15-21, Psalm 26, Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

We live in interesting times where it seems the freedom to speak is under attack as people would like to silence anyone who disagrees with them.  Lots of folks want to eliminate any words or symbols or ideas that offend them.  It seems we are less and less capable of civil conversations with people with whom we disagree.  I try to remain civil in my online and offline discussions, but I know I often fail.

I get upset by some of the stuff other people post on Facebook, and there are people who are deeply offended by some of the stuff I post online.  When someone is deeply offended I think that means that I am supposed to back off, quit posting and probably change my position.  They are done discussing or arguing.  They are offended and so they want me and my ideas to get out of the way.

In our Gospel reading today we find Jesus doing this very thing.  He says that he is offended and wants the offensive person to get out of the way.

Jesus begins to tell His disciples what is going to happen; Matthew 16:21 (ESV)  ²¹ … that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.^[1]

Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Peter must have grand ideas in mind, of Jesus, the Christ going to Jerusalem to become king; to wear royal robes and be crowned and move into the palace to reign on the throne of David with all His disciples close by living a life a ease and luxury.

Peter thinks that with Jesus things will be easy.  With the Christ things will be nice.

But that is not what Jesus says is going to happen.  Jesus says that when He gets to Jerusalem He will be rejected and He will suffer and He will be killed and He will rise again from the dead.

Ironically, Jesus will get to be in the Governor’s headquarters and wear royal robes and a crown.  Jesus will get a throne.  At the Roman Praetorium in Jerusalem the soldiers strip Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him to make fun of Him saying, “Hail, king of the Jews.”  They crown him with thorns.  Jesus does reign, not from the throne of David, but in the pain and humiliation on the cross.  Jesus tells Peter that the work of the Christ involves suffering and death.  Peter says no.  Peter says this is not going to happen; not on his watch.  “Far be it from you, Lord.  This shall never happen to you.”  Peter is going to stand in the way of Jesus going to the cross.

And Jesus moves Peter out of the way.  Matthew 16:23 (ESV) ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” ^[2]

You are a hindrance.  In Greek a skandalon.  An offense.  A stumbling block.  Jesus is offended by what Peter said because what Peter said is a direct attack on Jesus’ mission.  And so Jesus wastes no time in getting Peter and his ideas out of the way.  “Get behind me, Satan.”  Get out of the way.  You cannot stop what needs to be done.  Nothing will stop Jesus from going to the cross to do what He came to do…for you.

Life for Jesus is not always easy.  Life for the Christ is not always nice.

That is a mistake so many make about Christianity.  Somehow, somewhere we get the idea that if we are followers of Jesus everything is going to be easy; everything will be nice.  Far too many believe the lie that if you are a Christian you are never going to have a bad day.

God will let you have a bad day.  God will allow you to suffer.  God will allow you to struggle.  Ask anyone you know in East Texas.

In a book about atheism I read once the author related the story of how he lost his faith because he spent a day job hunting in Las Vegas.  It was a hot day and he walked a long, long way and he was turned down by every place he visited and at the end of the day he was hot, tired, thirsty, frustrated and rejected.  He was having a very bad day and because of this he decided that there is no God because God would never let him have a day as bad as that one.  Because God would never let him feel as bad as he felt that evening.  This story was being offered as evidence that there is no God because God would not let you have a bad day.

That is a lie.  God will let you have a bad day.  God will allow you to suffer.  God will allow you to struggle.  Ask anyone you know in East Texas.  You want to believe that with Jesus things will be easy.  You want to believe that with the Christ things will be nice.  Because, like Peter, you have in mind the things of man rather than the things of God.  You get caught up in the here and now whereas God has a much greater vision for you.  He not only provides for you in the here and now, but He has saved you for all eternity.  He has marked you in Holy Baptism.  He feeds you with His Body and Blood.  He pours out forgiveness in His Words of absolution.  You are a redeemed child of God now and for all eternity.  And still, life is hard.  You will have to do hard things.  And God knows this.  The Bible addresses how you should deal with the struggles and difficulties and evil in the world.

The world is full of evil and evil can be very attractive, especially when you are having a bad day.  When things are going badly and you are tired and frustrated the devil knows this is a time when you are vulnerable to dabbling in evil.  Greed, lust, anger, sloth, pride, envy, gluttony.  The devil wants you to dabble in evil because then you can start to love evil and if you love evil the devil’s task of keeping you away from God is so much easier.  Do not love evil.  Do not dabble in evil.  And that is hard.  Life is hard.  You have desires that you cannot act on because those desires are contrary to God’s will.  Life is a struggle.  This is why St. Paul writes to the Christians in Rome.  Romans 12:9-13 (ESV) ⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.^[3]

With Jesus life is not always easy, but life is eternal.  With the Christ, life is not always nice, but it is never-ending.  The things of the world that we think are so important are so often just temporary distractions from the true joy of eternal life with God.  Life is hard; life is a struggle, but you live it knowing you are loved forever by the Creator God himself.  You are loved and forgiven and in the love and forgiveness of God the Father through Jesus Christ you live in love and forgiveness and service each day with the people in your life.  You battle evil.  You hate evil.  You repent of the evil in your life.  You cling to good.  Cling to the cross of Christ.

In this world full of evil Paul instructs how to live with all people; friends and enemies.

Romans 12:14-18 (ESV) ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.^[4]

When you get offended by someone’s words or actions do not repay evil for evil.  Bless those who persecute you.  That is a hard teaching.  Don’t get angry and aggressive with those you find offensive but rather bless those you disagree with.  Bless those who are out to get you.  Bless those who seek to do you harm.

I challenge you to do this.  When you find yourself disagreeing with someone else; in person or on social media; no matter how serious or trivial the disagreement, bless them.  “God bless you.”  When someone writes a nasty reply on Facebook, respond, “God bless you.”

You are not called on to defend God’s honor or your own honor.  God can take care of Himself and God will take care of you.  Paul writes, Romans 1-2:19-21 (ESV) ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ^[5]

Jesus told Peter to get out of His way because Peter was an offense; a stumbling block; trying to stop Jesus from His mission.  Jesus has now accomplished His mission to die for your sins on the cross and be raised from the dead.

You still battle evil in your life and in the world around you, but do not battle evil with evil.  Battle it with good.  In humility and gentleness you battle evil.  With love and blessings you battle evil.  You battle evil by feeding your enemy and giving him something to drink.

Recently on NPR[6] there was a story of a black blues musician named Daryl Davis who has a collection of 200 Ku Klux Klan robes.  Davis collected the robes from Klansman whom he befriended and then they realized that their hate was misguided.  Davis overcomes the evil of the KKK with love and friendship.

Jesus did not let anything stand in the way of Him going to the cross for you.  He did not battle evil with evil.  He used love and good to overcome hate and evil.  Love and good overcomes hate and evil.  Amen

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[6] http://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544861933/how-one-man-convinced-200-ku-klux-klan-members-to-give-up-their-robes*

Pentecost 12 2017, Proper 16
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 27, 2017
Psalm 138:1-8, Isaiah 51:1-8, Romans 11:33-12:8, Matthew 16:13-20

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

Who is Jesus?

This has been a vexing question for 2,000 years.  Who is Jesus?  This has been a source great disagreement and confusion since that first Christmas in Bethlehem.  Who is Jesus?  This is the chief question for all eternity.  Who is Jesus?  This is the most important question for you.  The answer to this question makes all the difference.

Who is Jesus?  The answer to this question divides people.

Jehovah’s Witness say Jesus is the Archangel Michael.

Mormons see Jesus as someone who worked His way up to godhood.^[1]

Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet.

Some modern Jews believe Jesus was a Jewish teacher others only hear the name only in association with persecution.

Most adherents to the New Age Movement believe that Jesus was a great enlightened teacher who realized that He was God, just like you can realize you are God.

Hindus believe that Jesus was one of many great and holy men. Many Hindus believe that Jesus was a good teacher and perhaps one of their 330 million avatars. An avatar is an incarnation of the impersonal, supreme being that Hindus believe fills the universe.

Buddhists believe that Jesus was an enlightened man. Do they believe He was God? No.^[2]

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus?  This is the most important question for you.  The answer to this question makes all the difference.

“Matthew 16:13 (ESV) ¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”^[3]

Matthew 16:14 (ESV) ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”^[4]

People heard about Jesus, but they thought that Jesus is just a prophet; or just a great teacher; or just an enlightened man.  This is not much different from what a lot of folks say about Jesus today.  But who is Jesus?

Matthew 16:15 (ESV) ¹⁵ [Jesus] said to [the disciples], “But who do you say that I am?”^[5]

Who is Jesus?  Peter steps up with an answer speaking for the 12 disciples.  Matthew 16:16 (ESV) ¹⁶ … “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”^[6]

Who is Jesus?  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Let’s say it together.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Jesus is not just a prophet.  He is not just a great teacher.  He is not just an enlightened man.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Christ is the Greek version of the Hebrew title Messiah.  It means the anointed one; the chosen one.  Now Peter and the disciples don’t yet know all of what it means to be the Christ.  But they know that it means Jesus will do Christ work.  They know He will do the work of the anointed one of God.  But they do not fully understand.  When Jesus next tells them that He is going to be killed and rise again Peter refuses to accept this and rebukes Jesus.

How can suffering and dying be a part of the work of the Christ, the Son of the Living God?  When you think about Jesus being God in flesh it sounds like such a glorious thing; and it is, but God’s glory is not man’s glory.  Jesus glory is seen on the cross as He does the work He has been anointed to do.  Jesus takes into His flesh and blood the penalty for your sins so He can put into your flesh and blood His perfection and holiness.  Indeed, God’s ways are not your ways.

Jesus commends Peter for His confession of faith.  Matthew 16:17 (ESV) ¹⁷ …“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.^[7]

This is not something Peter has worked out on his own with his own intellect.  This knowledge about who Jesus is; this faith in Jesus; is from God the Father.  Faith in Jesus is not a flesh and blood thing that you work out yourself by studying all the world religions and picking the one that makes sense.  Faith doesn’t come from you.  Faith in God comes from God through the Holy Spirit; through baptism; through the Word of God.  We should never boast about our faith because whatever faith we have is a gift from God.  We boast only in the cross of Christ.  Faith in Christ is beyond our flesh and blood existence and understanding.  Faith in Christ is from God.  Because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus tells Peter and the disciples the significance of this confession.  Matthew 16:18 (ESV) ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.^[8]

Jesus gives Simon the name Peter, Petros and on the rock, Petra, of his confession Jesus will build His church.  Jesus does not build the church on Peter.  Peter, like you and me, is a flawed, sinful person.  Jesus builds His church on the foundation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  We sing about Christ the Rock.  “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.  On Christ, the solid Rock I stand.  Built on the Rock the church shall stand.”  Christ is the foundation of the Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  There will be tough times.  The devil and all His angels will continue to attack the Church.  There will be attacks from within and without.  There will be false teachers; false prophets and wolves in sheep’s clothing.  There will always be those trying to move the Church away from the foundation of Christ.  They can try.  They will cause great trouble, they will lead many astray, but they will not prevail.  The true Church of Jesus Christ will stand because it is built on the foundation of Jesus and Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And knowing this you are secure in Christ; you are safe in Christ, you do not need to be afraid of sin.  You do not need to be afraid to boldly confront the sin in your own life.  You do not need to be afraid to admit it; confess it; repent of it.  You do not need to be afraid to confess it out loud to the pastor if needed.  You do not need to be afraid to go to other sinful people with the great Good News of total forgiveness in the blood of Jesus.  Jesus’ forgiveness is for all people; even the most hardened sinner; even for you.  The devil loves to use your sin against you to accuse you but you do not need to be in terror of the devil.  You do not need to be afraid of sin, death and the devil because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and you are baptized into Christ.  Jesus has made a promise to you in your baptism that you are His for all eternity.

Secret sins so much want to become your master, but you belong to Jesus.  You are in Christ, so remember that the sin that you keep buried in the deepest, darkest place in your soul does not own you.  You do not belong to sin; you belong to Jesus.  Your heart is full of the bedrock of sin inherited from Adam and yet you are part of Jesus’ church built on the rock of Christ.  Your faith does not come from your own flesh and blood but from God.  And yet God does not ignore your flesh and blood.  Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  You have been baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection with water poured over your head.  You are fed with the very Body and Blood of Jesus which becomes part of you.

You have the Word of God coming into your ears and eyes.  You are a redeemed child of God and you dwell in the unknowable wisdom and mercy of God.  Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) ¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[9]

You can feel the forces of the world trying to shape and mold you so that you fit the ways of the world; pressuring you so that you give up on Jesus being the Christ and you look to the world for guidance.  They want you to build your house on the shifting sands of the worlds ever changing opinions.  The world desperately wants to control you.  Resist!  You do not belong to the world.  In daily prayer and devotion offer your flesh and blood as a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus as you live in love and service to others.  Live in the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ and do not conform your ways to the world’s ways, but rather be transformed by the will of God.  Do not let sin reign in your life.  Do what God wants you to do in all the various parts of your life because you know the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?”  Let’s say it together, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Amen.

[1] http://www.equip.org/perspectives/what-is-the-difference-between-the-mormon-jesus-and-the-jesus-of-the-bible/

[2] http://creationtoday.org/atheists-discuss-did-jesus-exist/

[3]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[6]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[7]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[8]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[9]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 11 2017, Proper 15
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 20, 2017
Psalm 67:1-7, Isaiah 56:6-8, Romans 11:1-2, 13-15, 28-32, Matthew 15:21-28

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

Big family feasts are wonderful with all the great food prepared and set out on the table.  When you gather with the family for Thanksgiving dinner, where do you get to sit?  Do you get to sit at the big people’s table?  Or do you have to sit at the little people’s table; you know that card table set up off to the side where you get to eat next to your cousins’ three little ones and there is no wine?  What would you think if you arrived at dinner and they told you that you don’t even get to sit at the little people’s table, but you need to sit under the table and you could have whatever crumbs fall on the floor?  That would be worse than being at the little people’s table.  Now there is someone who is pretty excited to sit under the table at Thanksgiving dinner; especially beneath the chair of anyone under the age of 4 or so.  Who is that?  Who is excited about staying under the table waiting for the crumbs to fall?  Daisy, the family’s little wirehaired terrier.  The dog is kept busy cleaning up the crumbs and scraps that fall to the floor throughout the feast.  And that is a good place for the dog to be.  I hear that some dogs think they probably deserve it, but they do not get a seat at the table.  The dog’s place is under the table.  So, if you were told you need to sit under the table, how insulting would that be?  That would be treating you like a dog.

After verbally sparring with the Pharisees and Scribes who came from Jerusalem, Jesus retreats for a bit to the area of Tyre and Sidon on the Mediterranean coast northwest of the Sea of Galilee.  This is Gentile territory; not many Jews around.  Maybe Jesus will have a break from the crowds for a time.  Then a Canaanite woman approaches Jesus.  The Canaanite’s are the arch-enemies of the Jews and have been for centuries.  The Israelites were supposed to kill all of the Canaanites because of their horrible pagan worship practices which included child sacrifice.  But the Israelites did not follow through and the despised Canaanites are still around.  And now one of them comes to Jesus.

Jesus has just discussed with the Jewish leaders and His disciples about being clean and unclean and how it isn’t what goes in your mouth that makes you unclean, but what comes out of the mouth makes you unclean because that proceeds from the heart.  Matthew 15:17-20 (ESV) ¹⁷ Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” ^[1]

They were just talking about clean and unclean and now this unclean Canaanite woman approaches Jesus, Matthew 15:22 (ESV) ²² … “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”^[2]

How strange.  This pagan, arch-enemy of the Jews calls Jesus, “Lord, Son of David.”  The pious Jewish religious leaders from Jerusalem attack Jesus; this Canaanite woman calls Him by a royal title.  She speaks like a disciple and calls Jesus, “Lord.”  She speaks like a believing Israelite and calls Jesus, “Son of David.”  The Pharisees say Jesus is working with Beelzebub, the Canaanite god Baal, in order to cast out demons.  This Canaanite woman knows Jesus has authority over demons all on His own.

And Jesus ignores her.

But the woman does not give up.  She knows who Jesus is.  She keeps on crying out after Jesus and the disciples.  She persists to the point of being so annoying the disciples just want Jesus to give her what she wants so she will go away.

But Jesus says to her Matthew 15:24 (ESV)  ²⁴ … “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”^[3]

How strange.  This does not sound like the Jesus we want to hear from.  First He ignores the woman, and then He tells her to go away because she is not Jewish.

But the woman persists.  She knows who Jesus is.  She comes and kneels before Jesus and begs, “Lord, help me.”

Jesus rebuffs her again, Matthew 15:26 (ESV) ²⁶ … “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”^[4]

The woman agrees with Jesus.  She is not worthy.  It would not be right to throw the children’s bread to the dogs.  But when the children eat the bread the dogs get to eat also.

Ouch!  Jesus calls this woman a dog.  He has come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel and this woman is a Canaanite.  She is not worthy to receive anything from Jesus.

And the woman agrees.  The woman agrees with Jesus.  She is not worthy.  It would not be right to throw the children’s bread to the dogs.  But when the children eat the bread the dogs get to eat also.  The dogs get the crumbs that fall on the floor.  She does not deserve a place at the table, but she is happy to take a place under the table with the dogs waiting for a crumb.

Matthew 15:27 (ESV) ²⁷ … “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”^[5]  That is how the ESV translates it.  “Yet even the dogs,” as if the woman is disagreeing with Jesus, but that isn’t what the word means.  This is a little three letter word in Greek, gar.  It means “because” or “for”.  Nowhere else is it translated as “yet” or “but”.  A better translation is, “Yes, Lord, because even the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

This Canaanite woman does not want a seat at the table.  She only wants to eat the crumbs.  Because she knows who Jesus is.  She knows how amazing and incredible and powerful Jesus is and so she knows that crumbs will be more than enough.  She knows that Jesus is God in flesh and just a crumb from His table is more than she can ever imagine.

She does not try to assert her rights.  She does not make demands on Jesus.  She approaches Jesus empty-handed, knowing that she is owed nothing, and she asks for help.  Matthew 5:3 (ESV) ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^[6]

What an amazing picture of us and God.  We too, for the most part, are not children of Israel.  My people come from Northern Europe.  As far as I know we are not descendants of Abraham and Sarah.  We are not God’s chosen people and yet we can come to Jesus with nothing to offer and eat the leftovers of the banquet which are in such abundance it is more than we could ever need.  Jesus supplies in abundance as we see with the leftovers at the feeding of the 5,000.  And, even more incredibly, not only do we eat the leftovers, but Jesus then grafts us into tree of Israel.  In baptism you are adopted as a child of God and a son of Abraham and his promise.  You become the new Israel, a wild olive branch grafted into the cultivated olive tree.  You are the new Israel, but don’t forget the old Israel.  Remember, Romans 11:18 (ESV) ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.^[7]

What amazing grace.  You, a Gentile sinner, are grafted into Israel.  You, a sinner, comes to Jesus on your knees and are forgiven all their sins.  And not with just a little forgiveness, but with forgiveness in great abundance.  You are forgiven all your sins through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Not because of how great you are, but because of how great Jesus is.

Jesus commends the Canaanite woman and heals her daughter.  Matthew 15:28 (ESV) ²⁸ …Jesus answer[s] her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. ^[8]

This woman who should be an enemy of the Jews.  This woman who is an outsider with no standing.  This woman who has no right to come to Jesus.  This woman trusts Jesus because she knows who Jesus is.

She trusts not because of who she is, but because of who Jesus is.  Our default mode is to try to find goodness and merit in ourselves, but all the goodness and merit we need is with Jesus.  You know who Jesus is and you know that even a crumb from Jesus’ table is a banquet beyond all imagination.  And Jesus doesn’t feed you with crumbs; He feeds you with His very body and blood.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[4]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[5]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[6]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[7]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[8]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 9 2017, Proper 14
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 13, 2017
Psalm 18:1-6, Job 38:4-18, Romans 10:5-17, Matthew 14:22-33

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

There are twelve men that night in a boat rowing against the wind and the waves soaked to the skin from the spray coming over the bow each time they crest a wave.  Very likely one of them has to take a break from rowing in order to bail water out of the boat to keep it from swamping.  It is dark and the wind is fierce.  The men are wet and exhausted.  It is long past midnight and the men are laboring at the oars without making much progress.

In the midst of their struggle and fatigue they see a figure out in the water.  It’s dark, but it looks like a man walking on the water, the twelve are terrified and cry out, “It is a ghost!”

But then the figure speaks to them; it is Jesus, “Take heart; it is I.  Do not be afraid.”

It is their Lord and teacher, Jesus.  Thank God.

There are twelve disciples of Jesus in the boat, but one of them, Peter, is bold and adventurous and He calls out, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  And Jesus tells Him, “Come.”

And Peter, bold and awesome Peter, gets out of the boat and walks on water.  Peter is willing to take some chances.  Peter is courageous.  Peter throws caution to the wind because He is a fully devoted follower of Jesus.  You should want to be like Peter doing brave and amazing things.

We can see here that Jesus has two kinds of disciples; two kinds of followers.  We have those who do bold and awesome things for Jesus and we have those who timidly stay in the boat.  Which kind of disciple are you?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.  Time out here.  Flag on the play.  Is that what this story is really about?  This was becoming a story about you and how you should be more like Peter.  But is that what this text is about?  Is this Gospel reading all about how you need to be bold and awesome like Peter?  Is the text about you?  Is it about Peter?  Who is this reading about?

Oh.  The reading is about Jesus.  It’s about Jesus sending the disciples on ahead so He could have some time alone to pray.  It’s about Jesus walking on the water.  It’s about Jesus saving Peter from drowning in his doubts.  It’s about Jesus calming the wind.  It is about Jesus being declared by the disciples to be, “The Son of God.”  This is part of Jesus revealing who He is on His way to His sacrifice on that cross for the sins of the world and His resurrection from the dead.  The text is not about you.  The text is not about Peter.  It’s about Jesus.  It’s not about you, it’s about Jesus for you.

We are so tempted to make every Bible story to be about us.  I want to insert myself into the Bible and make each story about me.  I so much want the Bible to be about me doing bold and awesome things because I really like the idea of being bold and awesome.  Pastor Jud is bold and awesome.  He turns his fear into adventure.  He is fully, courageously following Jesus.  How cool is that?  I could preach sermons about how bold and awesome I am and encourage you to be bold and awesome too; just like me.  I hear this is an effective strategy at many mega churches.

This story is about Jesus and yet so many times it will preached as if it is about how you need to be bold and awesome like Peter.

But once I start to think that the Bible is about me being bold and awesome I find myself in a similar position to Peter when he tried to be bold and awesome.  Peter found himself drowning in the deep water of His doubts in the Sea of Galilee.  Peter didn’t believe Jesus when he said, “Take heart; it is I.”  Peter doubted and needed proof.  “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  Peter doubts Jesus.  Peter needs hard evidence.  Peter ventures out to walk on the water but quickly gets scared and begins to sink.  Peter ends up the same place I end up when I think I can do things on my own; drowning in my sin and doubts, crying out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”  I probably like to think that I am bold and awesome because the truth is so much the opposite.  I am a poor, miserable sinner who struggles daily with temptations and doubts.  I can pretend to be bold and awesome, but by myself I only sink deeper into the waters of my failure and drown in my own sin and doubt.  On my own I live in terror of God and his righteous judgement on my sin.

This story is about Jesus and yet so many times it will preached as if it is about how you need to be bold and awesome like Peter.  It is an easy thing for a pastor to shame other people for not doing more, shame them for being those cowardly, lazy disciples who stay on the boat.  It is a simple way to motivate people through guilt by saying you should be more like Peter and get out of the boat and be bold and awesome.  Because when asked the question are you more like supposedly bold and awesome Peter, or are you more like the disciples who stay in the safety of the boat.  I, for one, know that I am one who needs the safety of the boat.  I can’t walk on water.  I sometimes fantasize about being a bold and awesome Christian who saves many people by doing things no one else has ever done.  But that is the fantasy.  The reality is much messier.  The reality is that I am a natural born sinner trying to bring the Good News of Jesus to other natural born sinners.  Trying to love and serve others.  The reality is that I can’t save anyone.  I can only do what I have been given to do.  I can baptize and preach and teach and administer the Lord’s Supper.  But I can’t save anyone.  Jesus does all the saving.  And indeed the Lord has saved so many.  So many have been saved by Jesus right here in the waters of baptism.  In these waters you were buried with Jesus through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, you too may live a new life.  Instead of drowning in your doubts, your sins were drowned.  Instead of drowning in the doubts of your self-righteousness, the Old Adam in you should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires.

I can’t save anyone, you can’t save anyone.  I am not bold and awesome.  You are not bold and awesome.  You are an ordinary person living out an ordinary life.  But you live out your ordinary life in an extraordinary way knowing you have already been saved by Jesus.  The reality of life as a follower of Jesus is that you have been washed in the blood of Jesus and are set apart as salt and light in the world.  You are called to love and serve one another.  Loving and serving is rarely bold and awesome, but rather humble and often tedious.  Doing what you have been given to do is difficult and repetitive.  It is hard to do what you are given to do as a child, a parent, a husband, a wife, a student, a teacher, a worker, an employer, a citizen, a public servant, a Christian.  Living out your various vocations is rarely bold and awesome and yet it is where you make the most difference in the lives of others.  Our Immanuel Lutheran School teachers live this out each day as they put in long hours loving and serving their students in the name of Jesus; especially those students who are more difficult to love.  Teachers model living out ordinary lives in extraordinary ways.  You may be an ordinary person, but you have been saved by the Lord Jesus Himself.  You are safe and secure in Jesus and are able to shine His love to others.

We are tempted to look to Peter and think how bold and courageous he is, but Peter went out on the water because he doubted.  Jesus says to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.”  The ones who remained in the boat, these are the ones who declare to Jesus, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  We are tempted to go after bold and adventurous things because that is often the attractive way; the easier way.  It is easier to go after some big, exciting adventure rather than do the hard work of the mundane things of everyday life.  There is not much glamour in the routine living out of life as a child of God doing what you are supposed to do.  Living out your vows and responsibilities.  Doing the things you have been given to do.  Struggling against sin and temptation.  Sorrowing over sin and repenting.  This is the hard road of a disciple of Jesus.  It is not too exciting.

In our call to live in love and service to others it is given to us to reach out in faith to others to plant the seeds of the Gospel.  We are called to love others by telling them of the great Good News of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for them.  It’s okay to try new things.  It’s okay to try new things and fail.  But how bold and awesome you are is not a measure of how good you are as a disciple of Jesus.

There are not two kinds of disciples; those that are bold and awesome and those who stay in the boat.  There is only one kind of disciple of Jesus; the kind that cannot do it on their own; the kind that needs to be saved by Jesus.

Amen.

Pentecost 8 2017, Proper 13
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
August 6, 2017
Psalm 136:1-9, Isaiah 55:1-5, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

A wise, somewhat strange looking man once said, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find You get what you need.”

Jesus appears to be having a miraculous day in a most unlikely place.  Jesus goes out by himself in a boat to a desolate place; to the wilderness.  There is a cloud hanging over Him and He wants to be alone.  But, it seems, Jesus is not allowed to be alone.  Someone sees Jesus leaving in the boat and they follow him by foot along the shore tracking His progress on the Sea of Galilee and collecting more and more people as they walk through towns along the coast.

The people have heard the news.  Jesus is amazing.  Jesus can heal the sick.  Jesus can reverse the effects of leprosy, blindness, disability, sickness.  Where every doctor has failed, Jesus succeeds.  Jesus can cure anything.  He is amazing.  He is incredible.  The people have never seen anything like this anywhere.  How can one man have so much power; so much authority over sickness and disability?  Only God can have this kind of power.

And so as Jesus gets out of the boat to have some alone time in the wilderness He is not alone.  He is met by thousands of people who have walked a long way to be there with Jesus.  They have brought their sick friends and family.  Despite His desire to be alone Jesus has compassion on the crowds and heals all the sick.  What an amazing thing to do.  Jesus has authority over disease.  Jesus has authority over blindness.  Jesus has authority over any kind of disorder and can miraculously make it right.  What a show of Jesus’ greatness on display in this desolate place along the shores of Galilee.  And yet there is an horrible cloud hanging over all of what happens this day on the seashore.

Now it is getting late and there are a lot of people and there isn’t any food and the disciples come to Jesus to “help him out.”  Obviously Jesus does not understand the situation.  Obviously he is overlooking a pretty important issue.  I mean, I know He just spent hours healing all these sick people, but He isn’t really engaged with these people’s needs.  It is good we have the disciples there to help Jesus out.  They say to him:

Matthew 14:15 (ESV) ¹⁵ … “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”^[1]

The 12 disciples are there with empty hands telling Jesus what he needs to do.  But Jesus turns it right around and tells them.  Matthew 14:16 (ESV) ¹⁶ … “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”^[2]

Amazingly, in this desolate place; this wilderness place, the people now can lie down in green pastures beside the still waters.

The disciples often are pretty thickheaded.  They just saw Jesus do all these incredible miracles, but they think they need to intervene on behalf of the hungry people.  These 12, thickheaded, empty-handed disciples now scramble around trying to find some kind of food for all these people but all they can come up with is five loaves of bread and two fish.  This is not even enough to feed the 12 disciples.  This is ridiculous.  How can the disciples possibly feed all these thousands of people?  But Jesus says, “Bring them here to me.”

Jesus tells the people to sit down on the grass.  Amazingly, in this desolate place; this wilderness place, the people now can lie down in green pastures beside the still waters.  Jesus takes the five loaves and two fish and looks up into heaven, says a blessing and breaks the loaves.  And then Jesus gives the loaves and fish to the disciples and the previously empty-handed disciples now distribute the food to the thousands of people and they all eat and are satisfied and the twelve disciples return with their hands full of the overflow from the feast.  What an incredible happening; how miraculous.  Jesus multiplied the food until there was more than enough for five thousand men, plus women and children.  Jesus is astonishing.  Jesus is beyond belief.  Jesus has the power of God.  And yet a cloud still hangs over this wonderful, miracle-filled day.

You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

Jesus has great power; divine power.  Jesus is almighty.  Jesus is God in flesh.  Jesus can heal thousands of sick.  Jesus can feed thousands with food only enough for a few.  And yet this ugly cloud is hanging over everything; dark and gray.  Jesus and the disciples just received word that John the Baptist was killed by Herod Antipas’ henchmen.  They woke John up in the dungeon in the middle of the night and they cut off his head.  And why?  Because Herod got drunk and when his step-daughter danced a likely very provocative dance He promised to give her whatever she wanted.  She asked her mother, Herodias, who is Herod’s sister-in-law, but sleeping with Herod what she should ask for.  Herodias hated John the Baptist because John said that Herod Antipas should not be sleeping with His brother Phillip’s wife.  Herodias did not want anyone telling her what to do; let alone some wacky desert prophet.  And so she told her daughter to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter.  John tried to tell Herodias what was the right thing to do and so John had to be killed to silence him.

How horrifying!  How repulsive!  How evil!  This is the prophet of God who announced Jesus’ arrival.  This is the one who prepared the way for Jesus.  This is the one who leapt in the womb at Jesus’ presence in Mary’s womb.  This new Elijah is killed in an awful, brutal, ugly, stupid, evil way.  Why didn’t Jesus stop it?  Why didn’t Jesus rescue John from Herod’s dungeon?  Why didn’t Jesus save John?  He could have done it, but He didn’t do it.

You have had loved ones who have gotten sick.  You have had loved ones die.  You prayed for them to be healed.  Why didn’t Jesus do it?  Why didn’t Jesus save your loved one?  It is so hard.

Jesus has great power.  And yet Jesus allows evil and sorrow to continue…for now.  Jesus has great power and yet you still walk in the valley of the shadow of death.  But the Lord is with you in the valley.

And still, in the midst of all the heartache and sadness in life Jesus provides for you in abundance.  There is food aplenty.  The problem in this nation generally is not lack of food, but consumption of too much food.  We have an abundance.  There is enough food to feed the world and have leftovers.

God provides for you with food and drink, housing and clothing and all that you need to support this body and life.

Why do you say grace before you eat?  Or, why should you say grace?  What is the point?  What is the purpose?  Does it make the food taste better?  Does it make the food more nutritious?

We say grace because it is our way of acknowledging that each mouthful; each morsel is a gift from God.  Luther’s practice of asking a blessing before a meal is a good one.  He begins with a bit from Psalm 145.  Psalm 145:15-16 (ESV) ¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you, [O Lord] and you give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.^[3]  Then the Lord’s prayer and then the following:  Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these your gifts which we receive from your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You can find these in the daily prayers section of the catechism.  There are simple copies of the catechism at each entrance entitled, “Simple Explanation of Christianity.”  Take one home.  Share one with a friend.

Saying grace is acknowledging God’s provision.  It is easy to forget that God is the source of all good things.  God blesses and provides, but not necessarily in the way that we want Him to.

Saying grace in the cafeteria of a hospital where you are sitting vigil with a dying loved one acknowledges that even in the valley of the shadow of death God still provides for you.  Even if you don’t get what you want.  You get what you need.

Jesus reigns in ways that we do not expect or understand.  We see this most clearly as He reigns in His most glorious moment in His sacrifice on the cross for our sins.  Hanging in humiliation and excruciating pain is not what you would expect of God and yet there He is, suffering and dying for your sins.

When you receive into your mouth the body and blood of Christ you may think.  Really?  Is this it?  Just a wafer of bread; just a sip of wine?  What good can possibly come of this?  And yet in the bread and wine you receive Jesus.  You get what you need.

Jesus does not reign in the way that we expect Him to.  Jesus does not give you everything you want, but He gives you what you need for this life and for life eternal.  In Jesus, you get what you need.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[3]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 8 2017, Proper 12
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 30, 2017
Psalm 125:1-5, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Romans 8:28-39, Matthew 13:44-52

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

Grammar is important.  And I am not talking about the person married to Grandpa.  When I was in sixth grade and supposed to be getting more in depth with nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, subjects, predicates, objects, dependent and independent -clauses my teacher, whom I thought was great, thought we would be better served learning to write our own comic books.  I’m not sure I ever quite caught up on what I should know about grammar.  I still have to look up what a predicate is.  Grammar is important.

What is the subject of the sentence, what is the verb, what is the object?  Grammar can make all the difference.  In our Gospel reading today we get two strange parables without any explanation.

Matthew 13:44 (ESV) ⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ^[1]

This is a bizarre little story.  And the next is similar.

Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV) ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. ^[2]

Two stories about a man who found something that he prized so highly he sold all that he has in order to possess it.  The man gave up everything in order to have the treasure; in order to obtain the pearl.

Two very short, very strange stories.  Now, these are not investing advice.  This is not how Dave Ramsey would say you should handle your money.  The whole not putting all your eggs in one basket thing.  This guy put the eggs and everything else into the one basket.  This guy went all in on a buried treasure.  This guy gave up everything to possess a single pearl.  This is a foolish way to act.

Here is where the grammar comes in.  The man, in his joy, goes and sells all he has and buys that field.  The man, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

This guy went all in on a buried treasure.  This guy gave up everything to possess a single pearl.  This is a foolish way to act.

The man is the subject, the object is the field with the treasure; the object is the pearl.  The man goes, the man sells, the man buys.  All to obtain the treasure.  The man went, the man sold, the man bought.  All to get the pearl.

The big question is, who is the man?  What is the treasure?  Who is the man? What is the pearl?  Over the history of Christianity, most scholars agree that the treasure, the pearl, is eternal life in Christ.  The man is you seeking the treasure that is Jesus.  This makes sense in that Jesus is the most important thing in life.  But then what is the application?  In order to obtain the treasure; in order to possess the pearl, all you have to do is give up everything that you have in order to buy it.

We see this kind of language in the parable of the unmerciful servant who owed an unpayable debt and he and his family and all that he has was to be sold to pay a small portion of the debt.  This is not a good outcome for the servant.  He is sold as a slave.  Jesus is indeed a treasure, but scripture does not speak about us having to buy the treasure.

Against the common thinking about these stories, the parables make so much more theological sense if we flip the subject and the object.  In almost all parables Jesus, or God in general is the one doing the action.  In the parable of the weeds, for example, the one sowing the good seed is the Son of Man; Jesus.  He is the one acting.

In the parable of the treasure, Jesus is the one who finds the treasure hidden in the field.  Jesus then sells all that He has in order to get the treasure.  What is the treasure?  You are the treasure.  Jesus gives up everything in order to have you.  What a foolish way to act.

Jesus gives up His loved ones.  Jesus gives up His comfort.  Jesus gives up His freedom.  Jesus gives up His skin.  Jesus gives up His blood.  Jesus gives up His clothing.  Jesus gives up His hands and feet.  Jesus gives up breath.  Jesus gives up His life on that cross at Calvary.  Jesus gives up everything He has in order to obtain the treasure; in order to possess the pearl; in order to have you.  Jesus gives up everything for you.

These parables show how the Kingdom of Heaven is; how the reign of heaven is.  These parables show how Jesus reigns.  Jesus does not reign in an expected way; Jesus reigns in giving up utterly everything to save you.  Jesus reigns in a way we find foolish and yet He does it all for you.

What a wonderful comfort as you make your way through this difficult life.  You are the treasure that Jesus gave everything to obtain.  You are the pearl Jesus gave everything to possess.  You are Jesus’ prized possession.  That is grace.  That is why it is amazing.

As you move through this life full of evil and hardship what a great encouragement to know that Jesus values you so highly that He gave everything for you.  And from the next parable of the net we learn that this walk through the valley of the shadow of death is only temporary.  The day is coming when Jesus will return in glory and He will be the final subject of the final verb.  Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead.  The great net will be thrown and all the fish will be gathered and sorted.  So it will be at the end of the age.  The evil will be separated from the righteous.  The day is coming when all the evil in the world will be undone.  Until then you have to live in this world and face the temptations of the evil one including the temptation to wonder whether or not you are truly saved.

Often when I teach I use a simple grammatical example of how to best talk about salvation.  How would you answer the question, “How do you know you are saved?”

Some folks will say, “Because I am pretty good.” Or “Because I do good works.” Or “Because I am not as bad as so and so.”  These are not good answers.  How can you know you have done enough?

Some will say, “Because I believe in Jesus.” Or “Because I have faith.” Or “Because I gave my heart to Jesus.”  Or “Because I decided to follow Jesus”.  These also are not good answers because in these answers “I” is the subject of the sentence and “Jesus” is the object.  There is great danger in these answers because when you are the subject of the sentence and you are doing the verbs there is room for great doubt.  You are always left wondering; do I believe enough, do I have enough faith, can I really give my heart to Jesus, did I decide fully enough to follow him?  Did I do enough?  Did I really go all in on Jesus enough to obtain salvation?  The devil loves doubt because he can use it to drive you to despair.

There is a much better answer.  How do you know you are saved?  Because Jesus died for me.  Because Jesus died for you.  In this there is no doubt.  Jesus went all in for you.  Jesus is the subject of the sentence and you are his object.  Jesus is doing the verb and Jesus does the verbs perfectly.  You are Jesus’ treasure.  Jesus did it all; gave it all, for you.  Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

[2]  The Holy Bible- : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001

Pentecost 7 2017, Proper 11
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 23, 2017
Psalm 119:57-64, Isaiah 44:6-8, Romans 8:18-27, Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

Most summers I plant a garden in hopes of being able to harvest cucumbers and tomatoes and watermelon and beans and sweet potatoes.  I have such a great picture of my garden in my mind of what my garden will look like as I plant the tomatoes just after Mother’s Day.  There will be these big, beautiful green plants standing tall in their cages contrasting with the clear black soil.  Stunning plants offering up their juicy red and yellow fruit.

But it doesn’t take long for the reality of the garden to show itself.  The rich garden soil does not grow just the tomatoes and cucumbers and such, it also is a great place to grow weeds.  Big, tall grassy weeds.  Low, small-leafed, spreading weeds.  Weeds with thorns, weeds with flowers, lots and lots of weeds.  I fertilize the garden and this helps the weeds grow.  I set up an automatic watering system for when I am away on vacation or servant event and this helps the weeds to grow to amazing heights.  There is nothing quite as disheartening as coming home from vacation to see the garden overgrown with weeds.  I have to search through the weeds to try to find the vegetables I planted.

Too often this is how things are in life.  You are a baptized child of God.  You have been set apart to be kept safe in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers.  You are a child of God made pure and holy by Jesus. But you live in a world that is full of sin and evil.  You are redeemed by the blood of Jesus but you live amongst such great evil.

It is hard to listen to or watch or read the news without becoming depressed at what is going on in the world.  War, terrorism, poverty, famine, disease, violence, anger, drug addiction, overdoses, hatred, broken families, abortion, abused children.  A short time spent with the news and it becomes clear that there is great evil all around us.  Why?

Why doesn’t God take care of this?  Why doesn’t God change all of this?  Why doesn’t God make it all stop now?  People ask, “How can a loving God allow so much evil in the world?”

An article in the Huffington Post summarizes the question well, “A classic question in theology asks how can a loving, yet omnipotent God permit evil and suffering in the world? The argument goes as follows: A God that allows suffering to continue is either a) not all-powerful (not omnipotent) and is thus unable to prevent the suffering; b) not loving because this God has the power to prevent suffering but is unwilling to do so; and/or c) not all-knowing (not omniscient) because God only is aware of the suffering after it has already occurred and it’s too late to prevent it. This problem of evil and God’s inability or unwillingness to do anything about it is known in theology as “theodicy.”[1]

Why does God allow anger and hatred and violence and abuse and disease and death continue to operate?  Why is the world so full of evil?

Why doesn’t God get rid of the sons of the evil one?  Why doesn’t God just eliminate all the evil and suffering in the world?

In this parable today, Jesus addresses this very issue.  Weeds have been planted in amongst the wheat.  God planted only good seed, but the devil planted weeds.  There are children of the kingdom and there are sons of the evil one.  Why doesn’t God just pull up the weeds?  Why doesn’t God get rid of the sons of the evil one?  Why doesn’t God just eliminate all the evil and suffering in the world?  O Lord, do you want us to go and gather up the weeds?

Jesus answers, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.”  The Lord is patient and longsuffering.  The Lord does not want anyone to perish and so, for now, He allows the wheat and weeds to grow up together.  The harvest is coming, but for now we grow together.  There is a desire to try to have an untainted church with no evil influences; a church with all the right people.  There are some in the church at large who want to practice much more frequent excommunication as a way to try to purify the church and keep it from bad influences.  But we see in this parable the need to be careful about trying to purify the church by somehow eliminating those we perceive to be weeds.  By trying to eliminate the weeds we may…we will… end up damaging the wheat.  We would like to think we can tell the difference between the wheat and the weeds, but that is above our pay grade.  I think that in our own personal struggles we may even have trouble at times determining wheat or weed with the person in the mirror.  There are a lot of hurt and broken people in the world and Jesus wants them all to come to a knowledge of the truth.

When we see so much evil in the world we want it to end and can get angry with God about how He is handling it.  We think we know better how Jesus should handle things in this world.  We don’t like that He lets evil continue to exist because evil makes life very difficult, very sad.  Life in this world is hard.  There is great suffering in the world.  The whole creation groans along with each of us.  We groan because of the evil in the world.  We groan waiting for these degrading bodies of ours to be transformed into imperishable bodies.  We groan inwardly as we wait for all the evil of the world to be taken away.  We groan because of the evil that clings to us.  We groan and the Holy Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words.  The Lord knows how hard life is; he has not forgotten you or forsaken you.

Living in this world is hard.  Life is hard.  Life in this world is a struggle against rot and darkness and decay and weeds.  As a follower of Jesus; as a baptized child of God you are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  Christ’s love shining through you as you interact with people in your everyday life helps battle the rot, push back the darkness, slow the decay, but it isn’t easy.  It is an on-going, exhausting battle.  It is a long, hard walk on the narrow path.  There are so many weeds in the world; so much evil.  How do you get through it?  You persevere.  You push on.  You put on the armor of God and stand your ground.  And you know that you are not alone.

That is why it is so good to be here.  It is good to gather together to lean on one another when the going gets tough.  It is good to be here and know you are not the lone stalk of wheat in a world of weeds.  The Lord did not sow just one seed.  You are not alone.  It is good to be here together to hear Jesus’ forgiveness for your sins and be fed with very Body and Blood of Jesus in communion.  You live out your calling to be salt and light to the world and look forward to the great harvest to come.

The day is coming.  The day is coming when all evil will be eliminated.  The day is coming when the weeds will be gathered up and thrown into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  The day is coming when Jesus will return and these degrading bodies; these decaying bodies; these broken and hurting bodies will be raised up in perfection.  The day is coming when the great harvest will take place and the Lord will gather you into His barn for all eternity.  The day is coming when the Lord will come for all those sealed in the waters of Holy Baptism who wear the white robe of Christ’s righteousness.  The day is coming when the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  The day is coming when all will be made right.

Until then, support each other, pray for each other, work with each other as salt and light to reduce the evil and decay in the world.  And look forward to the coming harvest when evil will be finished forever. Amen.

[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-small/why-must-evil-and-sufferi_b_857787.html

Pentecost 4 2017 Proper 8
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 2, 2017
Psalm 119:153-160, Jeremiah 28:5-9, Romans 7:1-13, Matthew 10:34-42

Sermons online:
Text:                            pastorjud.org
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

The Fourth of July holiday is almost here when we celebrate the Founding Fathers’ Declaration of Independence from England.  We remember the bravery and foresight of those early patriots who were willing to risk their lives to achieve freedom from England and start a new nation.  They had their priorities set.  Their desire for independence was greater than their loyalty to the King; greater than fortune, family or life or.

What are your priorities in life?  If you had to list your top four of five priorities in life how would they fall?  Family, work, school, spouse, leisure?  Where does God fit in?  For some folks work comes first before anything else.  For others, family.  For others spouse.  Some leisure.  I think it is difficult to have a clear ranking, because, at least for me, it seems it is more of a balancing act rather than one thing clearly coming before others.  But if push came to shove what is the most important in your life?  Where does God fit into your priorities?  Where does gathering together on Sunday fit into your life?  Do you attend worship to receive the forgiveness of sins every week?  Many of you only miss if you are deathly ill or out of town?  For others, coming to church is something you might get around to once in a while if there is nothing else happening.  Of course you all are here, so I am kind of preaching to the choir.

Our Gospel reading begins with Jesus saying, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”  Now Jesus certainly did come to bring peace on the earth; He is the Prince of Peace.  At Jesus’ birth the angels announce peace.  Indeed Jesus brings peace, but not always peace; not only peace.  Jesus call for repentance comes up against the sin of the world and this causes opposition.  Jesus brings peace and a sword, so likely we should understand this passage to mean, “Do not think that I came only so as to bring peace upon the earth; I came not only so as to bring peace, but even more, a sword.”

Jesus brings a sharp, lethal sword.  Jesus comes to bring the Reign of Heaven and calls for all to repent and follow Him, but due to the sinful condition of the human heart and Jesus’ uncompromising teachings there is great hostility.  Jesus brings peace but that offer of peace causes conflict and strife because Jesus’ truth is agonizingly absolute.

Jesus says, Matthew 12:30 (ESV) ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.^[1]  You are either with Jesus or against Jesus.  There is no middle ground.

This is an exceedingly difficult teaching.  We are so much more comfortable with compromise than with absolutes.  We don’t like the black and white clarity of Jesus’ uncompromising teaching.  We don’t like black or white; yes or no; everything or nothing.  We prefer middle ground.  Instead of black or white we want gray.  Instead of yes or no we want maybe.  Instead of everything or nothing we want something.  We much prefer a mushy gray…maybe…something middle where we can all just get along and we can ask, along with Pontius Pilate, “What is truth?”

Folks desperately want to live in a mushy world of grays where you can have your truth and I can have my truth and they can have their truth and we can pretend that there are really many contradictory truths that are all equally true.  We so much want to transform the sharp, lethal sword of Jesus’ truth into a dull, harmless butter knife that won’t cut anything.  We want to soften Jesus’ truth and live in a world of maybes.  But that world does not really exist.  The world of maybes is just a figment of our postmodern imaginations.  Jesus is truth.  Salvation comes through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  Jesus’ forgiveness, eternal life and salvation are given through Baptism, the Word of God and Holy Communion.

Jesus is the way…the only way…and there is no other way.  And this brings conflict.

We can see the sword of Jesus’ truth cut in the world as there are nations that have officially set themselves against the truth of Jesus.  We see this in the outright persecution of Christians in so many countries.

We can see the sword of truth cut in our nation where currently the fastest growing religious group is the “nones”.  Those that have no religious affiliation now make up 23 percent of the U.S. population.  Eighty percent of our country’s population is not in worship each week.

We can see how the sword of the truth cuts among churches in our nation.  As church attendance patterns decline there can be a great panic as to how to attract people back to church.  What can we do to make them want to come to worship?  Too often, I fear, the result is that churches rework the truth of Jesus so it is not so difficult.  They want to sheath the sword of Jesus so that it is safer.  They want to dull the sword to a butter knife so people are not made to feel uncomfortable about their sin.  Too often churches will talk about anything rather than Jesus.  Anything except sin, repentance and forgiveness.

We can see the sword of Jesus’ truth in our homes as family members start to follow the ways of the world instead of the ways of Jesus and will defiantly demand that we choose, “Choose me and my ways rather than your Jesus and His ways.”  Now, believing Christians will patiently continue to love and care for the straying loved one but too often the straying loved one will force the issue; force the choice and as a follower of Jesus you need to choose Jesus.  And this is so terribly painful.

We can see the sword of Jesus’ truth in the world, in our nation, in the Church at large and in our families, but that is not where it cuts the worst.  The sword of Jesus cuts the worst in your own life as it cuts sin away from you.  The sword of Jesus’ truth slashes deeply in my life as it cuts away the stubborn sin that clings to me; or more honestly, the sin to which I stubbornly cling.  Jesus comes to cut to shreds all my compromises with sin; all my treaties with the evil in my life.  Jesus’ truth is deadly to the old sinful Adam that daily needs to be slain in my life.  Jesus’ truth cuts away everything that is sinful in my life.  Jesus’ truth cuts away everything that is sinful in your life. Everything.  Everything.  Everything.

Jesus’ sword is unbending, unyielding and mercilessly sharp.  Jesus’ truth is agonizingly absolute and terrifyingly personal.

And this cutting away is not a one-time cathartic experience where you are able to leave the old, sinful self behind forever and emerge a new, sinless person.  It is not a weekend retreat or a revival meeting where you easily shed your sinful skin.  It is not a happy ending; but rather it is a new beginning.  You get a new beginning in Christ.  You are born again in water and the word.  You receive a call to live out life taking up your cross and following Jesus.  Called to take up the sword.  Called to a lifetime of cutting away sin while following Jesus on the way.

Jesus is the only way.  There is no divided loyalty.  You are Jesus’ first priority.  Jesus is your first priority.  You shall have no other gods.

Those who seek to find life in this world will only find a doomed life.  To lose your life in Christ’s life is to find the real life.  The true life.  Eternal life.  In Christ you have forgiveness of all your sins.  In Christ you are washed clean and covered with the robe of Jesus’ righteousness.  In Christ you have the fullness of life and peace forever.  Jesus’ truth is absolute.  Jesus died and rose for you.  There is peace and comfort in the absoluteness of Jesus’ truth.  In Jesus you find real life; eternal life.  Jesus is the way and so you walk the way, following Jesus, carrying your cross.  It is a long walk.  Blessed is the one who offers a cup of cold water along the way.

Amen.

[1]  The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001